Chapter 1 Verse 7: Our thoughts belie our fears, expectations and self-estimation. Mind is made up of thoughts. Be aware of your thoughts!

Chapter 1 Verse 3: Our thoughts belie our fears, expectations and self-estimation. Our mind are made up of thoughts. Be aware of your thoughts!

Just like peeling back the layers of a flower, if one can slowly peel back all the layers, the Atman will be revealed. The body, mind and intellect are covering it yet with self effort, through detachment and discrimination one can uncover this Truth and revel in bliss. Any being who strives to live like Nachiketa can also achieve and realise this Truth.

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At the start of a spiritual seeker’s journey, desires have to be given up with will and effort. For the realised person, the desires leave him without effort. When a seeker is prepared and the knowledge takes place, the bliss that remains removes all desires. Kathopanishad instructs one to cut the knots of the heart. When these knots of ignorance, desires, actions are cut, this seeker realises he is immortal. When ignorance is removed, everything else drops away and immortality remains!

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Having heard the means of knowledge, listen to Swami Tejomayananda expand on meditation. Meditation is withdrawal of the mind and turning the mind’s attention towards itself. When the senses, mind and intellect become still, the mind is not wishing for anything, the senses are not perceiving and the intellect is not judging. It is not the same as deep sleep! It is a conscious withdrawal. Once a person has seen this Truth, the knowledge is never lost. That person can continue to function in the world but ignorance is no longer. Faith is integral to this process. Faith in the knowledge, the Guru and existence of Truth.

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Although the Atman is unknown to us now, is it unknowable? Can we experience it via our senses or through perception? The Atman does not fall within the range of our sense perception. Kathopanishad shares the method of gaining this knowledge; listening, reflecting and then meditating. The student needs a purified mind and to have gained knowledge from a Guru. When a qualified student approaches the teacher, the Guru gives the knowledge. That is called Shravanam. Once we have heard, Mananam or reflection is required to  slowly reduce the mind’s attention from external objects to the internal. And finally, meditation.

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One lives as though life will last forever. Yet we have no idea when we will face death. Knowing this, one should focus on gaining knowledge in this life and not wait until the next! Even if the efforts do not lead to realisation, the results of our efforts will lead to a purified mind and gaining knowledge. Devotion to the Guru is a perfect way by which to purify the mind. Don’t wait. Do it now. Here and now – this is the best place, best time to purify the mind. Just like a clean mirror shows shining reflections, a purified mind allows one to clearly realise the Truth.

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The whole world, the forces of nature, our bodies, they all function in harmony with the laws of nature. By seeing the effects of the laws of nature, we are led back to the cause.  Samsaara is likened to the tree which can be cut down, through developing vairagya and viveka. This Samsaara we experience is only there because of our ignorance of our true nature. Once we see that there is a cause behind every effect, we see that it is Ishvara who is the cause behind everything.

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Swami Tejomayananda states clearly that there should be no doubt about whether one can experience this Truth. Instead of asking “can I experience this?”, ask how can I experience it. Try to understand this Truth instead of simply thinking “I don’t understand”. By knowing It, does one find fulfilment in life.

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What is the result of gaining knowledge of the Self? That person experiences abiding, everlasting bliss. Regularly, we get what we want and we experience some short term peace. Yet the peace and bliss gained from knowledge is everlasting. The more we look for this peace externally, the more we struggle and the more we are keeping ourselves separate from it.

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